As the year ends and another begins, we look to our plans.
I am planning to go to Malaysia and to Indonesia in January.
Last night I had a planning meeting.
I will be teaching at two schools do some pastors' meetings and minister in some of the villages in the jungle.
There is a great openness to spiritual things and the people are very hungry to know God better. It really is a joy to speak to those people. I have been given a keyboard to take with me.
We will also be looking into trying to start some micro businesses to help aleviate the poverty a little bit.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
The Latest
So what's been happening?
I just about got over the seminar "Mission among the poor" and flew to Cyprus. I flew together with a friend, John Jupe, who lives in Brussels.
We flew with Lufthansa. I was quite surprised that the service was much better than I remember it being.
John got into a conversation with the person sitting next to him. He was a young officer in the Swedish army. At one point in the conversation after John had asked him, if he was a Christian and had he read the bible and did he know that he was going to hell etc (actually he didn't do it like that, he was very skillful!). Anyway at one point in the conversation, he asked him, if he could guess what he did for a living. He then said, I do the same thing as Bob and pointed to me.
The young officer ran a trained eye over my athletic body and made a guess, "He probably has a sitting down job." he said. Nevermind.
I tried to practice my skill as an aeroplane evangelist, but my neighbour just shrugged his shoulders saying that he didn't understand me as he was Russian. So, I nodded off.
We had a good time in Cyprus and have organised a school of leadership in Limossol and possibly in Nicosia for next year.
I let John preach in the Sri Lankan church. Actually, they said I could go somewhere else as they had already heard me before.
So I went off to the Philippino church, was was excellent.
The journey back home was quite tiring as we journeyed through the night.
Back in Germany, I had a meeting with some people on Monday afternoon to talk about a street children ministry in Uganda.
I just about got over the seminar "Mission among the poor" and flew to Cyprus. I flew together with a friend, John Jupe, who lives in Brussels.
We flew with Lufthansa. I was quite surprised that the service was much better than I remember it being.
John got into a conversation with the person sitting next to him. He was a young officer in the Swedish army. At one point in the conversation after John had asked him, if he was a Christian and had he read the bible and did he know that he was going to hell etc (actually he didn't do it like that, he was very skillful!). Anyway at one point in the conversation, he asked him, if he could guess what he did for a living. He then said, I do the same thing as Bob and pointed to me.
The young officer ran a trained eye over my athletic body and made a guess, "He probably has a sitting down job." he said. Nevermind.
I tried to practice my skill as an aeroplane evangelist, but my neighbour just shrugged his shoulders saying that he didn't understand me as he was Russian. So, I nodded off.
We had a good time in Cyprus and have organised a school of leadership in Limossol and possibly in Nicosia for next year.
I let John preach in the Sri Lankan church. Actually, they said I could go somewhere else as they had already heard me before.
So I went off to the Philippino church, was was excellent.
The journey back home was quite tiring as we journeyed through the night.
Back in Germany, I had a meeting with some people on Monday afternoon to talk about a street children ministry in Uganda.
Monday, December 04, 2006
WE FEED THE WORLD
ESSEN GLOBAL
The most successful Austrian documentary!
We watched it last week. It was quite sickening to see how greed for profits and a sick EU structure helps to kill starving people in the third world. Because we want to feed our cows soya, the Brasilian forest is destroyed and many Brasilians go hungry.
Erwin Wagenhofer seems to have made this film almost single handed.
It appeals to the consumer - its critical about the food industry - but it's the consumer who is challenged to do something. But what?
We talked about the film and had to admit that although we see the dangers and the brutality behind the system, we aren't really prepared to spend more money than necessary for our food.
Hope for Africa
... and what the Christian can do
A book by George Kinoti
Last week I attended a course, "Mission to the poor" at the Akademie für Weltmission in Korntall in Germany. We were given George Kinoti's book to read.
George Kinoti is an African, he is a professor for zooology at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. This little booklet has a sharp cutting edge.
He doesn't seem to have an axe to grind, but does put the blame for much of Africa's misery in the lap of the colonial powers. However he goes on to claim that the problems have been perpetuated by the African mindset. "Independance" wasn't really what it seemed. African countries were just given a longer leash. They are still very much dependant upon the the West.
This is a call for African Christian to stand up and be African but also be all that God wants them to be.
He calls Africans to :
1. GET A VISION OF A PEACEFULA DN PROSPEROUS AFRICA
"The most important first step ist to get a vision of a better Africa... where all the people enjos human dignity, spiritual and moral wllbeing, peache, freedom, justice and material prosperity."
2. TAKE CHARGE OF AFRICA
"We live in a whiteman's world ... this domination enriches the West and impoverishes Africa and other poor nations. African mismanagement of the encomy has played right into the hands of the West who now dictare economic policies and supervise their implementation. ... We (the Afircan peoples) must continually remind ourselves that God has given us the same measure of intellectual, spiritual, moral and physical abilities as He has given other peoples."
3. GET ORGANIZED
"Afircan governments must become competent, efficient, just and free from coruption. And they, and the people as a whole, must become disciplined, making rules and ensuring that tey are kept strictly; saetting goals and making sure they are acieved. Christian have a crucial role to play in bringing about good governance in Africa."
4. FOLLOW THE WHOLE WILL OF GOD
"The greatest challenge facing the church in Africa today, I believe, is how to teach and live by the whole Word of God. What we need is a holistic theology that is God-centred and that treats man and the creation in the integrative manner that Scripture does."
5. MAKE THE CHURCH THE CHRUCH OF JESUS CHRIST IN AFRICA
"The African people everywhere urgently need to know that the Christian God is a God of justice, righteousness and kindness. African Christian need to make this God known through proclamation, by their own lives, and by active participation in the political, social and economic live of their nations. White Christians, too, need to know the God of justice, righteousness and kindness."
A very challenging book, published in Nairobi by the International Bible Society
ISBN 9966-837-61-2
A book by George Kinoti
Last week I attended a course, "Mission to the poor" at the Akademie für Weltmission in Korntall in Germany. We were given George Kinoti's book to read.
George Kinoti is an African, he is a professor for zooology at the University of Nairobi in Kenya. This little booklet has a sharp cutting edge.
He doesn't seem to have an axe to grind, but does put the blame for much of Africa's misery in the lap of the colonial powers. However he goes on to claim that the problems have been perpetuated by the African mindset. "Independance" wasn't really what it seemed. African countries were just given a longer leash. They are still very much dependant upon the the West.
This is a call for African Christian to stand up and be African but also be all that God wants them to be.
He calls Africans to :
1. GET A VISION OF A PEACEFULA DN PROSPEROUS AFRICA
"The most important first step ist to get a vision of a better Africa... where all the people enjos human dignity, spiritual and moral wllbeing, peache, freedom, justice and material prosperity."
2. TAKE CHARGE OF AFRICA
"We live in a whiteman's world ... this domination enriches the West and impoverishes Africa and other poor nations. African mismanagement of the encomy has played right into the hands of the West who now dictare economic policies and supervise their implementation. ... We (the Afircan peoples) must continually remind ourselves that God has given us the same measure of intellectual, spiritual, moral and physical abilities as He has given other peoples."
3. GET ORGANIZED
"Afircan governments must become competent, efficient, just and free from coruption. And they, and the people as a whole, must become disciplined, making rules and ensuring that tey are kept strictly; saetting goals and making sure they are acieved. Christian have a crucial role to play in bringing about good governance in Africa."
4. FOLLOW THE WHOLE WILL OF GOD
"The greatest challenge facing the church in Africa today, I believe, is how to teach and live by the whole Word of God. What we need is a holistic theology that is God-centred and that treats man and the creation in the integrative manner that Scripture does."
5. MAKE THE CHURCH THE CHRUCH OF JESUS CHRIST IN AFRICA
"The African people everywhere urgently need to know that the Christian God is a God of justice, righteousness and kindness. African Christian need to make this God known through proclamation, by their own lives, and by active participation in the political, social and economic live of their nations. White Christians, too, need to know the God of justice, righteousness and kindness."
A very challenging book, published in Nairobi by the International Bible Society
ISBN 9966-837-61-2
Saturday, December 02, 2006
Trip to Africa
i haven't written anything for the last few weeks.
I arrived home form Nepal at the beginning of October and was only home for a week when Elisabeth and I left for Africa. We went to Kenya and then on to Uganda.
We had lots of impression that I am still carrying around with me. Perhaps the greatest of these impressions was of the famine with the Samburu.
We spent a day with them watching food being distributed. What a good job Edward and Fridah Buria are doing.
While we were there, it stated to rain. We just hope the rain has been enough - but not too much - for the fields to yield a good crop and for the animals to find food.
The article below was about our visit with the Samburu, it was published in the local newspaper here.
Hungersnot bei den Samburu
(This was a newspaper article - I only realised it was in German after I posted it!)
Seit nun mehr als einem Jahr herrscht - bedingt durch die Trockenheit - Hungersnot in dem Samburu-Gebiet in Kenia. Das Samburu-Volk, das bekannt geworden ist durch den Film, „Die weisse Massai“ ist ein Hirtenvolk, das im Norden Kenias wohnt. Die Anhänger dieses Volkes sind leicht zu erkennen an ihren farbenfrohen Kleidern.
Das letzte Jahr hat es kaum geregnet. Im Frühjahr wurden die Felder bestellt und der Regen kam. Er war kurz und kam mit solch einer Wucht, dass die Samen aus dem Boden weggeschwemmt wurden. Nun herrscht Hungersnot.
Pastor Robert Hatton war zusammen mit seiner Frau Elisabeth vor kurzem in dem Gebiet und haben mitgemacht bei einer Speisung. Pastor Hatton, vormals Leiter der Philadelphia-Gemeinde in Pfedelbach, hat einen Aufruf gemacht und durfte etwas Hilfe für die Hungenden mitbringen.
Pastor Hatton, der die Verantwortung für die Philadelphia-Gemeinde nach 24jähriger Tätigkeit im März dieses Jahres abgegeben hat, ist der Koordinator für internationale Dienste bei „Forum Leben“, einem überkonfessionellen Dienst, der Kirchengemeinden berät, begleitet und ausbildet. Hatton hält Kontakte zu verschiedenen Teilen der Welt, wo er versucht, neben spiritueller Hilfe auch praktische Hilfe zu leisten.
Er steht seit vielen Jahren in Kontakt zum Leiter von Edfri International, Edward Buria von Meru, Kenia seit vielen Jahren. Buria speist 13000 Menschen, die sonst verhungern würden. Staatliche Hilfe gab es zuletzt im April 2006.
An dem Tag, als das Ehepaar Hatton mit dabei sind, während die Lebensmittel verteilt werden, in dem Dorf Womba, kommen rund 1000 Menschen. Sie setzen sich hin auf den Boden und warten. Viele von ihnen haben einen Fußmarsch von 3 Stunden hinter sich und die meisten Frauen tragen Babys auf dem Rücken. Sie sind geduldig. Die Verteilung der Lebensmittel beginnt. Die Leute sind den Verteiler bekannt. Sie bekommen bestimmten Mengen gemaß ihrer Familiengröße. Es gibt Bohnen, Mais und ein Pulver, das man zu einem Brei kocht für die Kinder.
„Alle zwei Wochen kommen wir hierher und verteilten die Lebensmittel.“ erklärt Edward Buria. „Einmal im Monat gibt es auch Zucker und Kochfett. Hoffentlich regnet es bald.“
Tatächlich während die Hattons dort sind, beginnt es zu regnen. Zunächst nieselt es und dann begann es stärker zu regnen. Die Hattons wurden gelobt und die Samburu bedanken sich, weil sie denken sie haben den Regen mitgebracht.
Gleichzeitig kommt ein Artzt und hält Sprechstunde. An dem Tag hat er bloss 100 Patienten zu versorgen. Am Tag davor in einem anderen Dorf hat er 300 Menschen versorgt.
Edfri International unterhält sechs weitere solcher Ausgabestellen mit ambulatnter Krankenstation.
Der Regen ist gekommen und hoffentlich ist die Hungersnot bald vorbei. Doch bis die Felder reif zur Ernte sind, vergehen noch ein paar Monate und die Menschen werden noch ein paar Mal Hunger verspüren. Robert und Elisabeth Hatton möchten sich weiterhin für die Samburus verwenden und bitten die Bevölkerung, um Spenden für die Hungenden. Wenn die Hungersnot vorbei ist, möchte Edward Buria sich um Strom kümmern für die Artztpraxis und die Schule, die er in Womba errichtet hat. „Es gibt keinen Strom in dem ganzen Dorf! Wir können die Leute nicht richtig untersuchen lassen ohne Strom.“ Beteuert Buria. Das andere Problem ist Wasser. Edward Buria weißt auch, wie er das Problem lösen kann, aber ihm fehlen die Mittel.
Wer helfen möchte, darf Spenden, - sie sind steuerabzugsfähig – auf folgendes Konto bei der Sparkasse Hohenlohe (BLZ 622 515 50) überweisen: 138518 – Konto-Inhaber: Forum Leben. Es wird gebeten, dass die Spender ihre Name und Anschrift auf der Überweisung angeben.
Weiter Information kann erfragt werden unter Tel. Nr. 07942-941117.
Das letzte Jahr hat es kaum geregnet. Im Frühjahr wurden die Felder bestellt und der Regen kam. Er war kurz und kam mit solch einer Wucht, dass die Samen aus dem Boden weggeschwemmt wurden. Nun herrscht Hungersnot.
Pastor Robert Hatton war zusammen mit seiner Frau Elisabeth vor kurzem in dem Gebiet und haben mitgemacht bei einer Speisung. Pastor Hatton, vormals Leiter der Philadelphia-Gemeinde in Pfedelbach, hat einen Aufruf gemacht und durfte etwas Hilfe für die Hungenden mitbringen.
Pastor Hatton, der die Verantwortung für die Philadelphia-Gemeinde nach 24jähriger Tätigkeit im März dieses Jahres abgegeben hat, ist der Koordinator für internationale Dienste bei „Forum Leben“, einem überkonfessionellen Dienst, der Kirchengemeinden berät, begleitet und ausbildet. Hatton hält Kontakte zu verschiedenen Teilen der Welt, wo er versucht, neben spiritueller Hilfe auch praktische Hilfe zu leisten.
Er steht seit vielen Jahren in Kontakt zum Leiter von Edfri International, Edward Buria von Meru, Kenia seit vielen Jahren. Buria speist 13000 Menschen, die sonst verhungern würden. Staatliche Hilfe gab es zuletzt im April 2006.
An dem Tag, als das Ehepaar Hatton mit dabei sind, während die Lebensmittel verteilt werden, in dem Dorf Womba, kommen rund 1000 Menschen. Sie setzen sich hin auf den Boden und warten. Viele von ihnen haben einen Fußmarsch von 3 Stunden hinter sich und die meisten Frauen tragen Babys auf dem Rücken. Sie sind geduldig. Die Verteilung der Lebensmittel beginnt. Die Leute sind den Verteiler bekannt. Sie bekommen bestimmten Mengen gemaß ihrer Familiengröße. Es gibt Bohnen, Mais und ein Pulver, das man zu einem Brei kocht für die Kinder.
„Alle zwei Wochen kommen wir hierher und verteilten die Lebensmittel.“ erklärt Edward Buria. „Einmal im Monat gibt es auch Zucker und Kochfett. Hoffentlich regnet es bald.“
Tatächlich während die Hattons dort sind, beginnt es zu regnen. Zunächst nieselt es und dann begann es stärker zu regnen. Die Hattons wurden gelobt und die Samburu bedanken sich, weil sie denken sie haben den Regen mitgebracht.
Gleichzeitig kommt ein Artzt und hält Sprechstunde. An dem Tag hat er bloss 100 Patienten zu versorgen. Am Tag davor in einem anderen Dorf hat er 300 Menschen versorgt.
Edfri International unterhält sechs weitere solcher Ausgabestellen mit ambulatnter Krankenstation.
Der Regen ist gekommen und hoffentlich ist die Hungersnot bald vorbei. Doch bis die Felder reif zur Ernte sind, vergehen noch ein paar Monate und die Menschen werden noch ein paar Mal Hunger verspüren. Robert und Elisabeth Hatton möchten sich weiterhin für die Samburus verwenden und bitten die Bevölkerung, um Spenden für die Hungenden. Wenn die Hungersnot vorbei ist, möchte Edward Buria sich um Strom kümmern für die Artztpraxis und die Schule, die er in Womba errichtet hat. „Es gibt keinen Strom in dem ganzen Dorf! Wir können die Leute nicht richtig untersuchen lassen ohne Strom.“ Beteuert Buria. Das andere Problem ist Wasser. Edward Buria weißt auch, wie er das Problem lösen kann, aber ihm fehlen die Mittel.
Wer helfen möchte, darf Spenden, - sie sind steuerabzugsfähig – auf folgendes Konto bei der Sparkasse Hohenlohe (BLZ 622 515 50) überweisen: 138518 – Konto-Inhaber: Forum Leben. Es wird gebeten, dass die Spender ihre Name und Anschrift auf der Überweisung angeben.
Weiter Information kann erfragt werden unter Tel. Nr. 07942-941117.
And another one
Early Sunday morning , 26th November 2006, Kathy Hatton was born. She weighed 4400 grammes and was 54cm long - that's quite big. She was born at home. Everything went fine, but the midwife who was called, drove into Neuenstein and was met with a diversion. The diversion is so crazy that if you don't know Neuenstein, you will get lost.
The diversion signs take you way out of town and don't even show you the way back. Our daughter, Sarah, who is a nurse, went to John-Mark and Melanie's place as it seemed things were getting serious. She went out to go and find the midwife. During her absence, Katy decided to show up to give them company.
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